Composting toilet

ABSTRACT

A composting toilet assembly has a composting bin with an agitator, a toilet bowl, and a urine bottle. The agitator has an agitator handle configured to actuate the agitator. The agitator may have a ratchet assembly including a hub, a clutch bearing disposed in the hub, and a pair of brass bushings disposed in the hub. The toilet bowl is disposed on the composting bin. The toilet bowl has a main body with a recess. The recess may have a first portion and a second portion with a partition wall. Each of the first portion and the second portion has an opening. The urine bottle is in fluid communication with the bowl. The urine bottle is configured to receive urine. The urine bottle has a drain, a handle, and a sensor. The sensor may have a light and be configured to detect a predetermined urine level in the urine bottle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/790,044, filed on Jan. 9, 2019. The entire disclosures of the aboveapplications are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to toilets and, more particularly, tocomposting toilets.

BACKGROUND

Traditional portable toilets that have been used in remote locationsutilize chemicals to mask the unpleasant smell of human waste. In suchchemical toilets, both the feces and urine of the user drop down into areceptacle that contains sufficient chemicals to cover the feces andurine. The chemicals prevent breakdown of the human waste and arescented to mask the odor of the waste.

However, the chemicals used in such chemical toilets are oftenenvironmentally harmful. Also, chemical toilets are limited in thatthese toilets are only able to contain a few days' worth of human waste,since the receptacle containing the chemicals and the human waste maybegin to overflow.

Composting toilets may provide a portable toilet option without the useof chemicals. Composting toilets may have a receptacle into which bothfeces and urine fall. These toilets require the user to drop peat mossinto the composting chamber after each use in order to absorb excessurine, since otherwise the excess urine reduces the rate of compostingof the feces.

While such toilets have been found to be effective, they require that asupply of peat moss be maintained on hand. The addition of peat mossafter each use makes the composting chamber fill up quickly.

There is a continuing need for a composting toilet that separates urineand fecal matter, in operation. Desirably, the composting toilet hasfeatures configured to improve the ease of use for the customer.

SUMMARY

In concordance with the instant disclosure, a composting toilet withthat separates urine and fecal matter while also including featuresconfigured to improve the ease of use for the customer, has surprisinglybeen discovered.

In one embodiment, composting toilet assembly has a toilet bowl. Thetoilet bowl has a main body. The main body has a recess with a firstportion and a second portion. A partition wall is disposed in the recessbetween the first portion and the second portion. The partition wallextends upwardly and has a top edge. There is a first opening in thefirst portion for receiving urine, and a second opening in the secondportion for receiving fecal matter. A urine bottle is disposed adjacentto the toilet bowl. The urine bottle is in fluid communication with thefirst opening of the toilet bowl and configured to receive urine. Theurine bottle has a drain, a handle, and a sensor configured to detect apredetermined urine level. A composting bin is disposed adjacent thetoilet bowl. The composting bin is in communication with the secondopening of the toilet bowl. The composting bin has an agitator, theagitator having an agitator handle configured to actuate the agitator.

In another embodiment, a composting toilet assembly has a toilet bowlwith a main body. A urine bottle is in fluid communication with thetoilet bowl. The urine bottle is configured to receive urine and has adrain, a handle, and a sensor. A composting bin is disposed adjacent thetoilet bowl and having an agitator. The agitator handle configured toactuate the agitator. The agitator handle is disposed on a ratchetassembly. The ratchet assembly has a hub, a clutch bearing disposed inthe hub, and a pair of bushings disposed in the hub. The ratchetassembly permits for a bidirectional movement of the agitator handle anda unidirectional movement of the agitator.

In a further embodiment, a composting toilet assembly has a toilet bowlwith a main body. The main body has a recess with a first portion and asecond portion. A partition wall is disposed in the recess between thefirst portion and the second portion. The partition wall extendsupwardly and has a top edge. There is a first opening in the firstportion for receiving urine, and a second opening in the second portionfor receiving fecal matter. A urine bottle is disposed adjacent to thetoilet bowl. The urine bottle is in fluid communication with the firstopening of the toilet bowl and configured to receive urine. The urinebottle has a drain, a handle, and a sensor configured to detect apredetermined urine level. A composting bin is disposed adjacent thetoilet bowl. The composting bin is in communication with the secondopening of the toilet bowl. The composting bin has an agitator. Theagitator has an agitator handle configured to actuate the agitator. Theagitator handle is disposed on a ratchet assembly. The ratchet assemblyhas a hub, a clutch bearing disposed in the hub, and a pair of bushingsdisposed in the hub. The ratchet assembly permits for a bidirectionalmovement of the agitator handle and a unidirectional movement of theagitator.

In an exemplary embodiment, a composting toilet assembly has a bowl. Thebowl has a main body and is configured to be disposed on a compostingbin. A urine bottle is configured to receive urine. The bottle has asensor, a drain, and a handle. The sensor has a device for detectingurine levels and a light for indicating the urine levels to a user. Thehandle has an agitator attached thereto. The handle is configured toactuate the agitator.

A composting toilet may have a bowl, a bottle, and a composting bin withan agitator handle. The bowl may be disposed on and removably coupled tothe composting bin. The bowl is removably connected to the bottle. Thebottle may be disposed in a sleeve on an exterior of the composting bin.

The bowl may have a main body. The main body includes a seat portionthat defines an upper edge of a recessed portion. The seat may have acurved surface. Advantageously, the curved surface of the seat isconfigured to be ergonomic as to improve the comfort for the user inoperation.

The recessed portion may have a lower portion and an upper portion. Thelower portion is configured to receive urine, and the upper portion isconfigured to receive fecal matter, in operation. The lower portion andthe upper portion may be separated by a partition. The partition definesan outer wall for each of the lower portion and the upper portion, forexample. Advantageously, the partition militates against an undesiredmixing of bodily fluids within the composting bin and the bottle.

The lower portion may have an opening. The opening is configured toreceive urine as urine exits the recessed portion and enters the bottle.The lower portion may have a major inclined surface. The major inclinedsurface extends from the partition to the opening. The lower portion mayhave an additional curved wall that extends from the seat and curvestowards the opening. Advantageously, the major inclined surface and thecurved wall directs urine to the opening to facilitate movement from thebowl to the bottle.

The upper portion may have an aperture. The aperture is configured toreceive fecal matter as it exits the recessed portion and enters thecomposing bin. The upper portion may have curved walls that extend fromthe seat and curve towards the aperture. Advantageously, the curvedwalls facilitate the movement of fecal matter from the upper portion tothe bin.

The bottle may include an intake opening, a sensor aperture for asensor, a drain, and a grab handle. The bottle may be connected directlyor indirectly to the bowl.

The intake opening is formed into a top surface of the bottle. Theintake opening is configured to receive urine from the opening of thelower portion of the bowl. The urine is received by the intake openingand disposed in the bottle. The intake opening may have a threadedportion configured to receive a lid.

The sensor aperture is formed into the top surface of the bottle. Thesensor aperture may have a molded brass insert. The molded brass insertmay be threaded. The sensor aperture is configured to receive the sensordescribed hereinbelow.

The drain is formed in a major exterior surface of the bottle adjacentto a rear surface of the bottle, for example. The drain may have athreaded insert configured to receive a drain valve. Advantageously, thedrain valve improves the user's ability to drain the bottle. Since thedrain is disposed adjacent to the rear surface of the bottle, the drainutilizes gravitational forces to empty the bottle, so the user does nothave to dump the contents of the bottle manually.

The grab handle may be formed in the rear surface of the bottle. Thegrab handle may be a capsule shaped indent formed into the rear surface.The handle is configured to receive the user's fingers. Advantageously,the handle provides an additional grip for the user when transportingthe bottle to be emptied.

The sensor may include a float device, a shaft, a threaded portion, anda light. The float device is disposed on one end of the shaft and thelight is disposed on an other end.

The threaded portion of the sensor is disposed on the shaft adjacent tothe other end with the light. The threaded portion is configured toremovably couple the sensor with the sensor aperture of the bottle. Theshaft may be at least % of an inch long. When the sensor is disposed inthe bottle, the shaft extends into the bottle with the float extendingdownwardly into the bottle.

In operation, the float hangs into the bottle until the urine levelreaches the float at which point, the float device may be lifted by theurine. The light of the sensor may be activated when the float islifted. Advantageously, the sensor automatically indicates via the floatand light mechanism when the bottle is full.

The agitator handle has a hub, a rod, a clutch bearing, a pair of brassbushings, and a knob. The agitator handle is disposed on an agitator barof the composting bin. The agitator handle is secured to the agitatorbar via a R-clip.

The hub may be machined from stainless steel. The hub is configured toreceive the rod, the bearing, and the pair of brass bushings. The hubmay be cylindrical in shape and has a hollow interior portion. The hubmay also have a hole to receive the rod.

The bearing is disposed between the pair of brass bushings in the hollowinterior portion of the hub. The agitator bar is disposed through eachof the clutch bearing and the pair of brass bushings in order to connectthe agitator handle to the composting bin. The clutch bearing may onlyrotate in a single direction. The rod is disposed on an exterior portionof the hub. The knob is disposed on a free end of the rod.

In operation, the agitator handle controls the agitator within thecomposting bin. The handle may start in an original position. The handleis then pulled in a first direction via the clutch bearing whichactuates the agitator. The handle is then move back to the originalposition and due to the clutch bearing does not actuate the agitator.The user may the repeatedly crank the agitator handle, similar to aratchet, in order to actuate the agitator, as desired.

DRAWINGS

The above, as well as other advantages of the present disclosure, willbecome readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the followingdetailed description, particularly when considered in the light of thedrawings described hereafter.

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a composting toilet assemblyaccording to one embodiment of the present disclosure, shown with anelongate agitator handle;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the composting toilet assembly shownin FIG. 1, shown with a foot operated agitator handle;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional, top perspective view of the compostingtoilet assembly taken at section line A-A in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a toilet bowl of the composting toiletassembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional, side elevational view of the toilet bowltaken at section line B-B in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an exploded top perspective view of a door handle assembly ofthe composting toilet assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of a urine bottle of the compostingtoilet assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of the urine bottle shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional, top perspective view of the urine bottletaken at section line C-C in FIG. 7, and further depicting an inclinedfloor formed in an interior of the urine bottle configured to diverturine to a drain;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of a sensor of the urine bottle shownin FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is an exploded top perspective view of the agitator handle shownin FIG. 1; and

FIG. 12 is an exploded top perspective view of the agitator handle shownin FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is notintended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. Inrespect of the methods disclosed, the order of the steps presented isexemplary in nature, and thus, is not necessary or critical unlessotherwise disclosed.

As shown in FIGS. 1-12, a composting toilet assembly 100 may have acomposting bin 102, a toilet bowl 104, and a urine bottle 106. Each ofcomposting bin 102 and the urine bottle 106 may be disposed adjacent tothe toilet bowl 104. In a particular example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,the toilet bowl 104 may be removably disposed on the composting bin 102.The urine bottle 104 may be removably disposed in the composting bin102, and in fluid communication with the toilet bowl 104.

The composting bin 102, the toilet bowl 104, and the urine bottle 106may be fabricated from a material that is light-weight and rigid toallow the composting toilet assembly 100 to be both portable anddurable. For example, the composting bin 102, the toilet bowl 104, andthe urine bottle 106 may be formed from a lightweight plastic materialsuch as a polypropylene plastic material, by a molding process such asrotation molding. In other examples, the composting bin 102, the toiletbowl 104, and the urine bottle 106 may be formed from other suitablematerials including other thermoplastic materials such as polyethylene,and non-thermoplastic materials such as metal. It should be appreciatedthat any suitable materials and manufacturing methods for the compostingbin 102, the toilet bowl 104, and the urine bottle 106 may be employed,as desired.

With reference to FIGS. 1-3, the toilet bowl 104 may be removablydisposed on the composting bin 102. The toilet bowl 104 may be securedto the composting bin 102 via a plurality of clamps. A skilled artisanmay select any suitable method to secure the toilet bowl 104 to thecomposting bin 102, as desired.

As depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5, the toilet bowl 104 may have a main body108. The main body 108 may include a seat portion 110. The seat portion110 may circumscribe and define an upper edge 112 of a recess 114 of thetoilet bowl 104. Advantageously, the seat portion 110 may beergonomically configured such that a user may comfortably sit upon theseat portion 110 while operating the composting toilet assembly 100. Thecomposting toilet assembly 100 may also include a toilet bowl cover 115.The cover may militate against items unintentionally falling into thecomposting toilet assembly 100 when not in use.

The recessed portion 114 may have a partition wall 116 formed therein.The partition wall 116 may have a top edge 117. The partition wall 116may divide the recess 114 into two separate portions, namely, a firstportion 118 and a second portion 120. The first portion 118 may beconfigured to receive urine, in operation. The second portion 120 may beconfigured to receive fecal matter, in operation.

It should be understood that the partition wall 116 may militate againstthe undesirable mixing of urine and fecal matter within the recess 114and the composting bin 102, in operation. The partition wall 116 may beconfigured to divert urine into the first portion 118.

The first portion 118 may have a first opening 122. The first opening122 may be in fluid communication with the urine bottle 106. Inoperation, urine may enter the first portion 118, pass through the firstopening 122, and be collected in the urine bottle 106. The first opening122 may be directly or indirectly in communication with the urine bottle106.

The first portion 118 may have a major inclined surface 124 and a firstcurved side wall 126. The major inclined surface 124 may extend from thepartition wall to the first opening 122. The first curved side wall 126may extend from the upper edge 112 to the first opening 122. The majorinclined surface 124 and the first curved side wall 126 may beconfigured to divert urine to the first opening 122.

It should be appreciated that the major inclined surface 124 and thefirst curved side wall 126 may automatically divert urine. In otherwords, the urine may be diverted to the first opening 122 automaticallywithout any additional actions by the user. The first portion 118 isconfigured to provide an easy to use composting toilet assembly 100 forthe user.

The partition wall 116 may have a height configured to allow the user tooperate the composting toilet assembly 100 without interference from thepartition wall 116 while diverting urine to the first opening 122. Theheight of the partition wall 116, and likewise the top edge 117 of thepartition wall 116, is such that the partition wall 116 is within therecess 114 and thereby spaced apart from the upper edge 112 of therecess 114, for example, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. A skilled artisanmay select any suitable height for the partition wall 116, as desired.

With continued reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the second portion 120 mayhave a second opening 128 formed therethrough. The second opening 128may be in communication with the composting bin 102. In operation, fecalmatter may exit the second portion 120 via the second opening 128 beforereaching the composting bin 102. It should be appreciated that thesecond opening 128 is larger than the first opening 122 in order toaccommodate the fecal matter. A skilled artisan may select any suitablesize for the first opening 122 and the second 128 aperture, as desired.

The second portion 120 may be defined by the partition wall 116 and asecond curved sidewall 130. Advantageously, the second portion 120 maybe configured to direct fecal matter to the second opening 128.

The second portion 120 may also include a door 132. The door 132 may bedisposed adjacent to the second opening 128. The door 132 may behingedly attached to the second portion 120 adjacent to the secondopening 128, as a non-limiting example. The door 132 may be configuredto selectively open the second opening 128. The door 132 may be actuatedby a door handle assembly 134. The door handle 134 assembly may bedisposed through the toilet bowl 104 such that the user may actuate thedoor 132 while sitting on the composting toilet assembly 100.

Advantageously, the door 132 is configured to militate againstundesirable smells emanating from the composting toilet assembly 100when not in use. It should be appreciated that the door 132 may beactuated by any suitable method as contemplated by the presentdisclosure.

As shown in FIG. 6, the door handle assembly 134 may include a rod 136and a knob 138. The rod 134 may be fabricated from steel, as anon-limiting example. The rod 136 may have a pair of ends 140. Each ofthe pair of ends 140 may be configured to receive the knob 138. Forexample, each of the pair of ends 140 may have a threaded portion 142.The knob may also have a threaded portion 144. Each of the threadedportions 142 of the rod 134 may be configured to receive thecorresponding threaded portion 144 of the knob 138, thereby securing theknob to the rod 134. However, a skilled artisan may select any suitablemeans to secure the knob 138 to the rod 136, as desired.

It should be appreciated the threaded portion 142 of each of the pair ofends 140 may allow the handle 138 to be selectively disposed on eitherof the pair of ends 140. The user may, therefore, customize the locationof the handle 138, as desired.

With renewed reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the urine bottle 106 may beremovably disposed in a sleeve 146 formed on a front wall of thecomposting bin 102. While in the sleeve 146, the urine bottle 106 may bedisposed below the first opening 122 of the first portion 118.

Advantageously, the sleeve 146 may secure the urine bottle 106 in placemilitating against undesirable spills during operation. A skilledartisan may select any suitable means for securing the urine bottle 106to the composting bin 102, as desired.

It should be appreciated that the toilet bowl 104 of the compostingtoilet assembly may be configured to divert urine to the urine bottle106 and away from the composting bin 102. Advantageously, the toiletbowl 104 of the present disclosure may provide a composting toiletassembly 100 that is easy to use and does not require additional effortsfrom the user to keep urine out of the composting bin 102.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the urine bottle 106 may have a bottle body148. The bottle body 148 may be hollow and configured to receive andstore urine. The bottle body 148 may be defined by a top wall 156, abase wall 178, and at least one side wall. In certain examples, thebottle body 148 may be substantially D-shaped in cross section. Thebottle body 148 may have a plurality of apertures formed therethrough,namely, an intake aperture 150, a sensor aperture 152, and a drainaperture 154.

The intake aperture 150 may be formed through the top wall 156 of thebottle body 148. The intake aperture 150 may be in fluid communicationwith the first opening 122 of the toilet bowl. The intake aperture 150may be directly or indirectly connected to the first opening. Inoperation, urine may pass from the toilet bowl 104, through the intakeaperture 150, and stored in the urine bottle 106.

In certain embodiments, the intake aperture 150 may be circumscribed bya lip 158. The lip 158 may be formed on the top wall 156 of the bottlebody 148. The lip 158 may be configured to receive a lid (not shown).

Advantageously, the lip 158 may be used to connect the urine bottle 106and the toilet bowl 104, while also providing a means for sealing theurine bottle 106. The user may transport the urine bottle 106 containingurine while militating against undesirable spills. A skilled artisan mayselect any suitable method for both connecting the urine bottle 106 tothe toilet bowl 104 and sealing the urine bottle in operation, asdesired.

The sensor aperture 152 may also be formed in the top wall 156 of thebottle body 148. A molded insert 160 may be disposed in the sensoraperture 152, for example, as shown in FIG. 3. The molded insert 160 maybe a threaded ring, for example. A sensor 162 may be configured to beremovably disposed in the molded insert 160.

As depicted in FIG. 10, the sensor 162 may have a shaft 164. The shaft164 may have a first end 166 and a second end 168. The shaft 164 mayhave a length configured to allow the shaft to extend into the bottlebody 148. The length of the shaft 164 may also be configured to detect apredetermined amount of urine within the bottle body 148, in operation.For example, the shaft 164 may be one-half inches (0.5″) to two inches(2″) in length. More specifically, the shaft 164 may be aboutthree-quarters inch (0.75″) in length. A skilled artisan may select anysuitable length for the shaft 164, as desired.

A float device 170 may be disposed on the first end 166. The floatdevice 170 may be disposed below the top wall 156 such that the floatdevice 170 may extend into the bottle body 148. A light 172 may bedisposed on the second end 168. The light 172 may be in electroniccommunication with the float device 170. Further, the light 172 mayinclude a power source, for example, a battery disposed therein.

A threaded portion 174 may be disposed on the shaft 164 adjacent to thesecond end 168 be. The threaded portion 174 of the sensor 162 maycorresponded to the threaded molded insert 160. The molded insert 160and the threaded portion 174 cooperate to secure the sensor 162 withinthe sensor aperture 152. When the sensor 162 is secured in the sensoraperture 152, the light 172 may be disposed above the top wall 156 ofthe bottle body 148.

The float device 170 may be configured to actuate the light 172, inoperation. More specifically, in operation, the sensor 162 may bedisposed in the sensor aperture 152, and the float device 170 may hanginside the bottle body 148. When the urine level reaches the floatdevice 170, the float device 170 may be lifted. When the float device170 is lifted, the light 172 may be actuated. Advantageously, the userof the composting toilet assembly will be automatically notified by thelight 172 that the urine bottle 106 is full.

It should be appreciated that the float device 170 may close a circuitwhen the predetermined urine level is reached, as a non-limitingexample. In other embodiments, the float device 170 may trip a switchwhen the predetermined urine level is reached. A skilled artisan mayselect other suitable means of configuring the float device 170 toactuate the light 172, as desired.

With renewed reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the drain aperture 154 may beformed in a major curved wall 176 of the bottle body 148 adjacent a basewall 178 of the bottle body 148. The drain aperture 154 may receive adrain valve 180. The drain aperture 154 may have a threaded insert (notshown) that may secure the drain valve 180 in the drain aperture 154.Advantageously, the drain valve 180 may improve the user's ability todrain the bottle 106 as the drain valve 180 utilizes gravitationalforces to empty the bottle.

In certain embodiments, for example as shown in FIG. 9, the bottle body148 may have an inclined floor 182 formed therein. The inclined floor182 may have an end disposed on the major curved wall 176 opposite thedrain valve 180. The inclined floor 182 may have an other end disposedon the major curved wall 176 below the drain valve 180. As shown in FIG.9, the inclined floor 182 may be disposed at an angle (θ). The angle maybe defined by the angle (θ) may be defined by the angle formed betweenthe base wall 178 and the inclined floor 182. In certain embodiments,the angle (θ) may be between zero degrees (0°) and thirty degrees (30°).Advantageously, the inclined floor 182 may improve the user's ability todrain the urine bottle 106 by diverting the urine to the drain valve180.

As shown in FIG. 8, the bottle body 148 may have a grab handle 184. Thegrab handle 184 may be formed in the base wall 178 of the bottle body148. For example, the grab handle 184 may be a capsule shaped indent.The handle 184 may be configured to receive the user's fingers.Advantageously, the handle 184 may provide an additional grip for theuser when transporting the urine bottle 106 to be emptied. A skilledartisan may select any suitable shape and placement for the grab handle184, as desired.

It should be appreciated that the urine bottle 106 may collect urinefrom the first portion 118 of the toilet bowl 104. The toilet bowl 104and the urine bottle 106 are configured to divert urine from thecomposting bin 102 and to improve the ease of use for the customer.

With renewed reference to FIG. 3, the composting bin 102 may have anagitator 186 disposed therein. In operation, the composting bin 102 maybe filled with peat-moss, as a non-limiting example. After the user isfinished using the toilet bowl 104, the user may use the agitator 186 tomix the peat-moss compost mixture. Advantageously, the agitator 186 maymix the composting mixture, which may provide a more even compost.

The agitator 186 may have an agitator handle 188. The agitator handle188 may be disposed on an exterior surface of the composting bin 102.The agitator handle 188 may be connected to the agitator 186 via aR-clip (not shown). It should be appreciated that the agitator handle188 may allow the user to actuate the agitator 186 while sitting on thecomposting toilet assembly 100.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the agitator handle 188 may have a ratchetassembly 190. The ratchet assembly may include a hub 192, a clutchbearing 194, and a pair of brass bushings 196.

The hub 192 may be fabricated from 316 stainless steel, as anon-limiting example. The hub 192 may be substantially cylindrical inshape with a hollow interior 198. The hollow interior 198 of the hub 192may receive the clutch bearing 194 and the pair of brass bushings 196. Askilled artisan may select any suitable material and shape for the hub192, as desired.

The clutch bearing 194 may be disposed in the hub 192 between each oneof the brass bushings 196. A rod 187 of the agitator 186 may be disposedthrough the clutch bearing 194 and each of the brass bushings 196.

In certain embodiments, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, the agitatorhandle 188 may have an arm 200. The arm 200 may be an elongate agitatorhandle. A first end of the arm 200 may be disposed on an exteriorsurface of the hub 192. A second end of the arm 200 may be a free end202. A knob 204 may be disposed on the second end. The elongate agitatorhandle 188 may have a length configured to allow the user to use thehandle while sitting on the composting toilet assembly. Accordingly, theelongate agitator handle 188 may have a resting position adjacent to thetoilet bowl 104.

It should be appreciated that the agitator handle 188 may beunidirectional due to the ratchet assembly 190. In operation, theagitator handle 188 may start in an original position, for example,adjacent to the toilet bowl 104. The user may push on the arm 200 in afirst direction about the ratchet assembly 190, which thereby actuatesthe agitator 186. The elongate agitator handle 188 may be pushedforward, for example, as shown in FIG. 1. Accordingly, the elongateagitator handle 188 may be disposed adjacent to the urine bottle 106when actuated by the user. The agitator handle 188 may then return tothe original position without actuating the agitator 186. In certainembodiments, the agitator handle may automatically return to theoriginal position via a spring mechanism (not shown), as a non-limitingexample. The user may repeatedly pull or crank the arm 200 to actuatethe agitator 186, as desired.

In other embodiments, for example, as shown in FIG. 12, the agitatorhandle 188 may have a plurality of arms 200. In a most specific example,the agitator handle 188 may have three arms 200. Each of the pluralityof arms 200 may have an end disposed on the exterior surface of the hub192 and a free end 202. The arms 200 may be evenly arranged on theexterior surface of the hub 192. A skilled artisan may select anysuitable number and arrangement for the plurality of arms 200, asdesired.

Each of the free ends 202 of each of the arms 200 may have a foot pedal.The foot pad 206 may be formed by having the free ends 202 curved backon itself to create a curved end, as illustrated in FIG. 12. The footpedals 206 may have a cover (not shown) to increase traction with theuser's foot, in operation. Advantageously, the foot pedals 206 of thisembodiment allow a user to actuate the agitator 186 with either a handor a foot. A skilled artisan may select any suitable shape and materialfor the foot pedals 202, as desired.

The composting bin 102 may further have a fan assembly (not shown). Thefan assembly may force air into and out of the composting bin 102.Advantageously, the fan assembly may militate against undesirable smellsnear the composting toilet assembly 100. Further, airflow from the fanassembly may improve the overall quality of the compost mixture in thecomposting bin 102.

Advantageously, the composting toilet assembly 100 militates against theundesirable mixing of bodily fluids in the composting bin 102 byautomatically separating urine and fecal matter, in operation. Further,the composting toilet assembly 100 has features configured to improvethe ease of use for the customer.

While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown forpurposes of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that various changes may be made without departingfrom the scope of the disclosure, which is further described in thefollowing appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A composting toilet assembly, comprising: atoilet bowl having a main body, the main body having a recess having afirst portion and a second portion, a partition wall disposed in therecess between the first portion and the second portion, the partitionwall extending upwardly and having a top edge, a first opening in thefirst portion for receiving urine, and a second opening in the secondportion for receiving fecal matter; a urine bottle disposed adjacent tothe toilet bowl, the urine bottle in fluid communication with the firstopening of the toilet bowl and configured to receive urine, the urinebottle having a drain, a handle, and a sensor configured to detect apredetermined urine level; and a composting bin disposed adjacent thetoilet bowl, the composting bin in communication with the second openingof the toilet bowl, and the composting bin having an agitator, theagitator having an agitator handle configured to actuate the agitator.2. The composting toilet of claim 1, wherein the toilet bowl further hasa seat portion, the recess having an upper edge connected to the seatportion, the recess extending downwardly from the seat portion, theupper edge of the recess spaced apart from the top edge of the partitionwall.
 3. The composting toilet assembly of claim 1, wherein the firstportion has a sloped surface extending from the top edge of thepartition wall to the first opening and configured to divert urine tothe first opening.
 4. The composting toilet assembly of claim 1, whereinthe toilet bowl has a door disposed adjacent to the second opening and adoor handle assembly disposed through the toilet bowl, the door handleassembly attached to the door and configured to selectively open thedoor, the door handle assembly having a rod and a knob, the rod having afirst end and a second end, the knob configured to be selectivelydisposed on either the first end or the second end.
 5. The compostingtoilet assembly of claim 4, wherein each of the first end, the secondend, and the knob having a threaded portion, and the knob is configuredto be selectively threadably attached to either the first end or thesecond end.
 6. The composting toilet assembly of claim 1, wherein thesensor includes a shaft having a first end and a second end, a floatassembly disposed on the first end of the shaft, and a light disposed onthe second end of the shaft.
 7. The composting toilet assembly of claim6, wherein the shaft has a threaded portion configured to selectivelyaffix the sensor to the urine bottle.
 8. The composting toilet assemblyof claim 1, wherein the urine bottle has top wall, at least one sidewall, and a base wall, the top wall having both an intake aperture and asensor aperture formed therein, the at least one side wall having adrain aperture formed therein, and base wall having a grab handle. 9.The composting toilet assembly of claim 8, wherein the sensor aperturereceives the sensor and the drain aperture receives the drain.
 10. Thecomposting toilet assembly of claim 8, wherein the intake aperture ofthe top wall is in communication with the first opening of the toiletbowl.
 11. The composting toilet assembly of claim 8, the sensor apertureof the urine bottle is defined by a threaded insert disposed in the topwall of the urine bottle.
 12. The composting toilet assembly of claim 8,wherein the float assembly is configured to actuate the light upon thepredetermined urine level in the urine bottle being reached.
 13. Thecomposting toilet assembly of claim 8, wherein the grab handle is anindent formed in the base wall of the urine bottle.
 14. A compostingtoilet assembly, comprising: a toilet bowl having a main body; a urinebottle in fluid communication with the toilet bowl, the bottleconfigured to receive urine and having a drain, a handle, and a sensor;and a composting bin disposed adjacent the toilet bowl and having anagitator, the agitator having an agitator handle the agitator handleconfigured to actuate the agitator, the agitator handle disposed on aratchet assembly, the ratchet assembly including: a hub, a clutchbearing disposed in the hub, and a pair of bushings disposed in the hub,the ratchet assembly permitting for a bidirectional movement of theagitator handle and a unidirectional movement of the agitator.
 15. Thecomposting toilet assembly of claim 14, wherein the hub has a hollowinterior and the clutch bearing and the pair of bushings are disposed inthe hollow interior of the hub.
 16. The composting toilet assembly ofclaim 15, wherein the clutch bearing is disposed between each of thebushings.
 17. The composting toilet assembly claim 14, wherein theagitator handle has a elongate rod with a first end and a second end,wherein the first end of the elongate rod is disposed on the hub, andthe second end of the elongate rod is connected to a knob.
 18. Thecomposting toilet assembly of claim 14, wherein the agitator handleincludes a plurality of arms radially disposed on the hub.
 19. Thecomposting toilet assembly of claim 17, wherein each one of theplurality of arms has an end with a foot pedal.
 20. A composting toiletassembly, comprising: a toilet bowl having a main body, the main bodyhaving a recess having a first portion and a second portion, a partitionwall disposed in the recess between the first portion and the secondportion, the partition wall extending upwardly and having a top edge, afirst opening in the first portion for receiving urine, and a secondopening in the second portion for receiving fecal matter; a urine bottledisposed adjacent to the toilet bowl, the urine bottle in fluidcommunication with the first opening of the toilet bowl and configuredto receive urine, the urine bottle having a drain, a handle, and asensor configured to detect a predetermined urine level; and acomposting bin disposed adjacent the toilet bowl, the composting bin incommunication with the second opening of the toilet bowl, and thecomposting bin having an agitator, the agitator having an agitatorhandle configured to actuate the agitator, the agitator handle disposedon a ratchet assembly, the ratchet assembly including: a hub, a clutchbearing disposed in the hub, and a pair of bushings disposed in the hub,the ratchet assembly permitting for a bidirectional movement of theagitator handle and a unidirectional movement of the agitator.